Mary-Anne Thomas elevated to state cabinet
5pm
MACEDON MP Mary-Anne Thomas is facing calls to urgently address shortages in the seasonal harvest workforce in her new role as Victoria's agriculture minister.
Ms Thomas was announced as agriculture and regional development minister on Tuesday, taking on two of the portfolios held by MP Jaclyn Symes, the state's new attorney general.
Nationals leader Peter Walsh said fruit and vegetable growers desperately needed access to seasonal workforce to harvest crops.
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Ms Thomas said it was an honour to be sworn in as the new Agriculture and Regional Development Minister, in a statement to the Bendigo Advertiser.
She thanked outgoing minister Jaclyn Symes for her "tireless work" in the portfolios.
"Having grown up in regional Victoria, and representing the Macedon electorate for more than six years, I'm excited about the opportunities to work for the regional and rural communities that make up this great state," Ms Thomas said.
"Our agricultural and regional industries are a cornerstone of the Victorian economy, and will be crucial in helping us build back better following this challenging year - I can't wait to get started."
Victorian Farmers Federation President Emma Germano said the organisation looked forward to working towards a quick and sensible solution to the workforce labour problem facing farmers with Ms Thomas.
"We thank Jaclyn Symes for her work and look forward to working with Mary-Ann Thomas in her new role," she said.
Earlier
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas has been handed a role in the state cabinet.
The Labor MP was sworn in on Tuesday morning as minister for regional development and agriculture.
The appointment was made as part of a reshuffle triggered by the resignation last week of the attorney-general Jill Hennessy, who stood down for personal reasons.
"Since her election in 2014, Mary-Anne has been an unwavering voice for the people of her community - and people in regional communities across our state," premier Daniel Andrews said.
"She'll bring that same determined sense of advocacy and enthusiasm as our state's new Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Agriculture."
Ms Thomas took over the regional development and agriculture portfolios from Jaclyn Symes, who was appointed this morning as the new attorney-general.
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